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Friday, March 29, 2024

Parts unknown

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Across my homepage the other day, I saw an advertisement for the final episodes of “Parts Unknown,” the television show for which Anthony Bourdain is infamously known.

The title of the series resonated with me in a surprising way. It had nothing to do with food or travel. It had nothing to do with stepping outside the zone of comfort to try something new. It had everything to do with discovery. That’s the premise of the show — Anthony’s discovery of parts unknown to the world. These parts are inclusive of unique cuisine and awe-inspiring ways of culture.

Yet there was still more to the two words – parts unknown, with regard to the idea of discovery.

When we make discoveries about ourselves, we change. And well, in most instances, we should. I don’t say that to say become a chameleon or be a bandwagoner. Change is predominantly a matter of maturity. At least that’s the hope — that as the parts unknown become known, we adjust accordingly. Such adjustment may mean a shift in mindset or manner of thinking. It could mean we don’t surround ourselves with the same people anymore. Maybe we don’t find ourselves in the same kinds of environments anymore or speaking the same way we did prior to this discovery. All of this is good, especially when it lends to us being better version of ourselves. There was an NBC commercial that simply said, “The more you know, the more you grow.” In other words, the more those parts unknown become identified and adapted to, the more we develop. 

It may not always feel good. Some of our moments of discovery may be met with the surprise of “aha” and others may be met with the sting “ouch.” No matter what, it’s a part of life. We can’t remain in a “Toys R Us” state of mind and never want to grow up. Maturity is a must if we want to move forward in what we have been called to do and be in the earth. 

There are two well-known biblical texts that speak in antonym like fashion to Bourdain’s series title and bring the Omniscient One, All-Knowing One to the forefront. Psalm 139, in its entirety, speaks to the knowledge of God about us, through the lens of David. Later on, infinite wisdom speaks to us through Jeremiah 1:5 reminding us that we were known by God before being formed in the wombs of our mothers. Our parts are never unknown to God. God knows us through and through — and through! The two scriptures encourage us that no matter what we do, where we go, who we’ve been or will be, God still knows. The best part — even with all God knows about us, as we discover ourselves: God is, still. God is still loving. God is still gracious. God is still faithful. God is still kind. God is still forgiving. God is still God — all that we want and need. And God will always be, still.

So even if others aren’t able to handle our newfound discoveries … and even in those times where we can barely stand the latest breaking news about ourselves, there is one who will never leave or forsake us, no matter how shocking the discovery seems to be. God already knew it anyway!

Rae Karim is an Indianapolis pastor who serves as chapel director at Christian Theological Seminary. She can be reached at rkarim@cts.edu.

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